Russia – Soviet: An Aircraft Mechanic’s Order of the Red Star awarded to Guards Master Sergeant Aleksandr Osipovich Shishkov, 11th Vyborg ‘Order of Kutozov’, 3rd Class Guards Fighter Regiment, for his excellent efforts in keeping aircraft serviceable throughout the Great Patriotic War.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, without screw post plate and with semi flared edges numbered 936438.
Condition: Nearly extremely fine
Aleksandr Osipovich Shishkov was born in the village of Podolnovo, Sereda Raion, Yaroslavl Oblast in 1913. Joining the Red Army in 1935, Shishkov served throughout the Great Patriotic War as an Aircraft Mechanic.
Shishkov was to be the recipient of a number of awards during the war, the first Medal he was to receive being a Medal for the Defence of Leningrad on 22nd December 1942, indicating his presence on the northern part of the front. The first combat award he received was a Medal for Combat Merit on 25th June 1943 by Order of the 11th ‘Vyborg’ Order of Kutozov 3rd Class Fighter Regiment, his net award was this Order of the Red Star issued by order of the 2nd Leningrad Guards Fighter Corps on 4th November 1944 on the back of the following recommendation:
‘Guards Master Sergeant Shishkov has been stationed on the Leningrad Front, part of the Operational Army, since the beginning of the Patriotic War. During the time he has been servicing aircraft, comrade Shishkov has proven himself a capable mechanic who makes every effort to accomplish his assignments. The aircraft he services has been in excellent condition throughout the entire war. During the Patriotic War comrade Shishkov has supported 373 combat sorties and 35 non-operational sorties. Along with the rest of his flight he replaced 9 engines and performed 29 routine overhauls and 13 minor repairs on aircraft and engines. In July 1943 he was awarded the Medal for Combat Merit for his excellent performance and for setting an example for others. Following this award comrade Shishkov improved his aircraft maintenance work even further. He has been extensively working on himself. Given the absence of a technician the regiment’s chief engineer appointed comrade Shishkov the senior mechanic of the regimental headquarter’s team of mechanics. He is capable of properly and purposefully directing his subordinates to carry out their assignments, in which he himself serves as an example to the other specialists.
On September 16, 1944, during the liberation of Soviet Estonia, the regimental navigator’s aircraft returned from a combat mission with a pierced wing surface and fuel tank. Through great effort on the part of the specialists the aircraft was repaired in 5 hours during their time off, reducing the repair time by a factor of 2-3. On September 21, 1944 Shishkov’s aircraft returned from a mission damaged by enemy antiaircraft fire. The cylinders needed to be replaced. Comrade Shishkov replaced the cylinders overnight, reducing the repair time by 12 hours.
After he was decorated comrade Shishkov supported 143 combat sorties, replaced 2 engines, and carried out 9 routine overhauls and 13 minor repairs on aircraft and engines. Over the course of 1943 and 1944, the aircraft’s pilot shot down 3 enemy aircraft.
For his selfless efforts to support 143 combat sorties, replace 2 engines, and perform 9 routine overhauls and 13 minor repairs and for setting and example and taking initiative, comrade Shishkov deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star on the grounds of Order nr.394 from 1943.’
Signed by the Commander of the 11th Vyborg Guards Fighter Regiment, Hero of the Soviet Union, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Neustruyev.
Shishkov would continue to serve in the Red Army Air Forces after the war, receiving a Medal for Combat Merit for 10 years long service on 6th November 1945, an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service on 15th November 1950, and an Order of the Red Banner for 20 years long service in December 1958.
